The beauty of the 2015 NHL All-Star Game’s fantasy draft is recreating that feeling of picking teams in a way that evokes playground nostalgia. Of course, there’s one subversive twist ... a single player experiences something they likely didn’t encounter often as kids: getting picked last.
With media availability kicking in on Friday, some players shared their thoughts on possibly following Phil Kessel as an All-Star who was tabbed last. The range of emotions seemed quite varied.
For Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan, the consolation prize of a new car won’t be enough incentive to go last overall, as he told the Ottawa Citizen.
“I really don’t want a Kia,” Ryan says. “Although if it happened, I’m not going to be upset about it. Mom will have a nice ride.”
Ryan noted that he already dropped former Anaheim Ducks teammate Ryan Getzlaf to try to convince him that he would be a “mid-round steal.”
While Ryan represents the denial phase, New Jersey Devils veteran Patrik Elias seems to cover the acceptance spectrum, as the Bergen Record reports.
“It is what it is,” Elias said. “It’s good for the fans. It’s fine. The draft is the draft. I don’t care where I’m picked. I’m just happy to be there.”
While Elias takes the veteran approach, Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is almost like the new kid at school.
#Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson said there is a good chance he is picked last tonight. “Just a feeling…I don’t really know anyone here, so…”
— Shawn Mitchell (@shecky218) January 23, 2015
One imagines Kessel’s reaction would simply be, “Oh no, not again,” even if he seems to say otherwise.
Kessel on being last pick at 2011 all-star draft: "I could care less, I got a car." #Leafs star doesn't think anyone should be last pick.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) January 23, 2015
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